NAS basics

[xwrench3]

i have started to look for a way to back up all (5) of out computers, and a NAS hard drive seems like it might be the best way to go. except, i have no clue how a NAS mechanical drive would be connected to all of the computers. 2 of them are laptops, and the other 3 are hardwired. (thru the router). would i install it in a desktop, and then everyone connects thru a lan? would there be a way to set up all of the computers to run a backup automatically every night? 

[ProjectBox153]

The easiest way would be to setup a NAS machine. It is a computer that serves files over a network. The hard drive itself is just a drive. You don't need a NAS rated drive for the task though if you're just backing up files.

[manikyath]

basing my guess of your knowledge on your post, i'd suggest getting an off the shelf NAS, they're usually just a plug into the network and go thing.

[xwrench3]

i would have to buy another computer to do that. which doesn't make financial sense. could i use this (which i didn't know existed until just now) for this purpose? 

[ProjectBox153]

1 minute ago, xwrench3 said:

i would have to buy another computer to do that. which doesn't make financial sense. could i use this (which i didn't know existed until just now) for this purpose? 

Use what?

[xwrench3]

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822235115&cm_re=external_NAS_drive-_-22-235-115-_-Product

sorry, brain lapse

[ProjectBox153]

3 minutes ago, xwrench3 said:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822235115&cm_re=external_NAS_drive-_-22-235-115-_-Product

sorry, brain lapse

It would be slow considering it is Wi-Fi based. Consider getting a wired option that could sit next to your router.

[xwrench3]

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822235126&cm_re=external_hard_drive-_-22-235-126-_-Product

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822235134&cm_re=external_hard_drive-_-22-235-134-_-Product

 

so, like one of these then? will the usb cable carry the power to operate it as well as the data?

[ProjectBox153]

1 hour ago, xwrench3 said:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822235126&cm_re=external_hard_drive-_-22-235-126-_-Product

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822235134&cm_re=external_hard_drive-_-22-235-134-_-Product

 

so, like one of these then? will the usb cable carry the power to operate it as well as the data?

They are not networked so they must be taken to each computer individually.

[Gwersebe]

If you want put the drive into a windows computer and create an smb share to the rest of the network and you could setup windows's automatic backup feature to that drive.